Doyle to guide MSA All-Stars Severn coach hopes to extend streak

November 17, 1992|By Lem Satterfield | Lem Satterfield,Staff Writer

Jim Doyle is great at turning mole hills into mountains.

The football coach at Severn -- one of the smallest schools in the Maryland Scholastic Association -- consistently has his Admirals playing at a higher level, particularly this year, when the squad's talent rivaled that of most of the area's larger schools.

But on Dec. 6, at Johns Hopkins University's Homewood Field, he will lead a group of gifted MSA senior All-Stars against the best from Baltimore County in the 11th annual Greater Baltimore Football Classic.

Doyle will be charged with upholding a winning tradition: The MSA has won seven of the meetings, including the past five.

"The pressure's been building because we've continued to win, so I expect they'll [the county team] be hard to beat," said Doyle, who was an assistant with the team in 1989 and 1990.

"As head coach, you don't want to be the one to slip up," Doyle added. "But I'm dealing with some class guys from good programs. In my experience, they've always been the leaders from their teams, not the prima donnas. It's just a matter of getting them in the right positions to highlight their talents."

Joining Doyle will be three players from the Severn's squadincluding running back Jamand Mack, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards, and 6-foot-2 quarterback Brad Fowler, who was bTC among the area's passing leaders.

Also on the MSA team are Severn's 6-5 split end Chris Pitkin, two players from St. Mary's -- fullback/linebacker Mark Zeller and two-way tackle Joe Greenlee -- and Archbishop Spalding defensive end Tim Alber (6-4, 200).

In the past, the game has been the steppingstone towar college scholarships for such luminaries as 1984 Dunbar graduate Calvin Williams and 1983 graduates Warren Powers of Edmondson and Brian Jordan of Milford Mill.

Williams, a wide receiver, is in his third season with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles; Powers, a defensive tackle, is a fourth-year starter with the Denver Broncos, and Jordon played two seasons as a safety for the Atlanta Falcons before signing as an outfielder with the St. Louis Cardinals.

"It's a lot of fun," said Doyle, "a great opportunity for me and for the players."